NHTSA complaint: 2000 CHRYSLER CONCORDE — STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
THE HYDRAULIC MECHANISM'S THAT HOLD UP THE TRUNK AND THE HOODS ON CHRYSLER CONCORDS AND OTHER MODELS HAVE A TENDENCY TO ALLOW THE HOOD OR TRUNK TO CLOSE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON MY 2000 CONCORD AND MY MOTHER'S CONCORD ALSO. IT IS NOT A MATTER OR EXCESS WEAR BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY 50, 000 MILES ON MY CAR THE HOOD HAS ONLY BEEN OPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES GIVE OR TAKE A FEW. THE EVENT THAT PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT LEFT A HUGE WELT ON MY HEAD, ALMOST KNOCKED ME UNCONSCIOUS IN A STORE PARKING LOT, AND MADE IT NECESSARY FOR ME TO SEEK MEDICAL ADVISE FROM THE BCBS HOTLINE. THE TRUNK OF MY CAR CLOSED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS MOVING MY HEAD TOWARD IT TO PUT GROCERIES IN THE TRUCK. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE HOOD SLAM SHUT ON ME BUT AT THE TIME I WAS NOT UNDER IT. THE HOOD AND TRUNK HAVE CONSIDERABLE WEIGHT AND IF THEY CATCH SOMEONE WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THEIR FALL I HAVE NO DOUBT IT COULD BE FATAL. THE FAILURE IS MORE PREVALENT IN COLD WEATHER. IN FACT, MY TRUNK AND HOOD WILL NOT STAY UP ON THEIR OWN IN COLD WEATHER AND THIS IS SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME HAPPENED IN WARM WEATHER HOWEVER. I AM SURPRISED THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL ON THESE PARTS. AS I STATED EARLIER I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON MORE THAN ONE CHRYSLER. THIS NEVER HAPPENED WHEN THE HOODS AND TRUNKS WERE HELD OPEN WITH SPRINGS. SO MUCH FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation